Not from outside, but from inside, are Jews threatened

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Miracles awaken our capacity to experience wonderment and awe. They speak to the deepest recesses of our soul without words—but through beauty. In the liturgy, Jewish tradition frequently invokes the imagery of the Red Sea, when Moses and his mighty staff made the waters part into

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East

JNS news briefs: June 25, 2013

Israeli Defense Ministry rallies to Father Nadaf’s support (JNS.org) Israel must help Arab Christians who choose to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon (Likud) said on Tuesday, Israel Hayom reported. Danon cited the recent controversy surrounding a prominent member of the Greek Orthodox community, Father Jibra’il (Gabriel) Nadaf, who participated

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International

God may watch over us; the government shouldn’t

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Most rabbinical students attribute omnipresence and omniscience as qualities befitting a Creator. Only God is called, “The Knower of Thoughts,” and “The Searcher of the human heart.” Rabbinical wisdom has long taught, “Always keep in mind these three things, and you will never come to the

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

Why wait for Afghan withdrawal if it’s coming anyway?

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Taliban carefully scripted the kerfluffle to embarrass the United States. Its not like we didn’t know they were in Qatar. For eighteen months, Doha has been the scene of sometimes secret, sometimes leaked U.S. talks with the Taliban — and without the Afghan government. But this week, Taliban

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

JNS news briefs: June 24, 2013

Pope Francis: Christians cannot be anti-Semitic (JNS.org) Pope Francis, meeting for the first time as pontiff with leaders from Jewish organizations and communities on Monday, told the delegation that due to “our common roots,” a Christian “cannot be anti-Semitic.” A delegation of Jewish leaders from the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations gathered in the

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International

Irish paradox: Israel trade and BDS strengthening

  By Sean Savage/JNS.org The Irish and Jewish people share a common history of both suffering cruel persecution and achieving national redemption against immeasurable odds. But today, Ireland is one of Europe’s fiercest critics of Israel. The Irish government and prominent Irish NGOs frequently condemn Israel for its treatment of Palestinians, and they are pushing

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Middle East

Ex-Mossad chief to track down Russian Jewish genealogies

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Efraim Halevy, who has previously served as the Head of Israel’s Mossad Intelligence Agency, announced his personal commitment to a program which will help certify the Jewish identities of thousands of immigrants, primarily from the former Soviet Union.  These certifications are mandatory under Israeli law for any couple of questionable ancestry

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Middle East

AJC: Bennett’s comments on peace process ‘shortsighted’

NEW YORK (Press Release) –AJC criticized Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Minister of the Economy, for his recent  call, in a Jerusalem speech, for an end to the vision of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The attempt to establish a Palestinian state in our land has ended,” said Bennett, leader of the Jewish Home party.

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Middle East